Safety-hook for side and over check reins.



G. L. V. MUNDHENK. v.

SAFETY HOOK FOR SIDE AND OVER CHECK REINS. APPLICATION IILBD SEPT. 22. 1906.

945,974., Patented Jan. 11,1910.

INVENTOR:

ANDREW v.1v mum 00,. PHDTO-LWHOGRAPHERS. wumnumn, n. c.

CLEMENT I1. V. MUNDI-IENK, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

SAFETY-HOOK FOR SIDE AND OVER CHECK REINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, 1910.

Application filed September 22, 1906. Serial No. 335,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, CLEMENT L. V. MURD- HENK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Safety- Hook for Side and Over Check Reins; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a safety-hook for side and over check reins for harnesses.

Some of the principal objects of this invention consist in providing a means, in the shape of a check-hook adapted to be attached to any style of harness saddle,-such as a gig-saddle or a coach-pad ;for checking up or keeping the horses head raised, and one which is applicable for retaining the sidecheck reins as well as the over-check reins on the horse, in position: also to produce a device of this nature, over which the check-rein can be quickly and easily manipulated; that is neat, and adds to the appearance of the harness; that can be manufactured at a small cost; and one which will give better results generally than those in present use.

My invention consists essentially, referring briefiy and in general terms to the construction of my safety hook for side and over-check reins, of the hook proper; the supporting-post adapted to connect the hook to the harness saddle; and the retaining spring for opening and closing the end of the hook; and the very novel and peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of these various mechanical parts or elements, as will be hereinafter more fully and specifically described in detail, and set forth in the subjoined claim, in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my safety hook for side and over-check reins, and my invention as embodied in the same, and which constitutes a formal part of this specification, and wherein the same letters of reference are employed, to indicate or point out the same parts wherever occurring throughout the several views :--Figure 1 is a side view of my safety hook for side and over-check reins. Fig. 2 is a broken away view partially in section, showing one form of securing the spring to the base of the hook.

In describing my said invention specifically, and referring in detail to'the construction of the various mechanical elements of construction, which together and in combination make up and form my safety hook for side and over-check reins, by means of the letters of reference as aforesaid; a indicates the hook proper, which is preferably shaped at the top as shown; while the base is slightly inclined at b,or so formed as to be adapted to the contour of the top of the saddle, so as to rest firmly thereon; said base being provided With a supporting-post, which consists of a stud, 0-preferably rectangular in form and adapted in practice to. be keyed into an opening of similar form in the metal saddle of the harness adapted to receive it ;while the termination of said stud consists of a screw-threaded shank (Z, which receives a nut e, which when run up on said shank so as to bear against the stud, will connect the safety-hook securely to the saddle the balance of said shank, of course being intended to be cut off close and smooth to the nut.

The rear or open end of the hook is closed by a spring or reacting member 9, which is firmly and securely connected at h to the end of the base of said hook, while the top of said spring-for convenience in operating,is formed into a loop Z, by which said spring may be readily moved or pressed away from its normal hearing point against the end of the top of said hook at m, owing to said spring or reacting member 9 being sufficiently resilient, thus opening the end of the hook sufficiently to allow of the check-rein being looped or placed in position over said hook, or readily removed therefrom; when by releasing the pressure of the hand from the spring, said spring will react, and spring or fly back to its normal position against the top of said hook at m, thus again securely closing the opening at rear end of hook, thereby firmly retaining said check-rein in position over and on said hook.

It will here be observed, that my form of post will retain the hook more rigidly and securely in a vertical position on the saddle, than the ordinary form of pivotal shank or rivet, heretofore used; and at the same time allow of my improved hook being readily attached to, or detached from, old as Well as new saddles: also, that my safety hook Will retain the side check rein;"as shown at n in Fig. 1,as securely in position as it Will the over-check rein Having now described my safety hook for side and over cheek reins, and the invention embodied therein,taken in connection With the illustrations; What I claim is The combination in a safety-hook for side and over check reins for harnesses, of a securing-hook approximately U shaped and having a rounded and smooth bearing face for the check-rein, and a base having a straight fiat surface to rest u on the harness saddle; a square or rectangular stud projecting from said hook; a screw threaded end or shank to said stud adapted to receive nut; and a helical spring one end of Which is firmly seated in said base While the other and free end forms a movable bearing against the top of said hook so as to nor mally close the open end of said hook; substantially as set forth. 7

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GLIDE EXT L. V. MUNDHENK. Witnesses JAMES A. CATHOART, Jas. O. HanTsHonN. 

